Working in poverty for the good of the community.
Still processing two-by-two the monks bow to the large Crucifix that hangs above the Prior's table at the front of the Refectory, then they bow to each other, and finally move to their place in the Refectory. Once all the monks have processed in, the Prior ends the Psalm with a prayer. All the monks then bow to the Crucifix and head to the ‘breakfast nook,' a small room connected to the rear of the Refectory, and proceed to take breakfast.
Breakfast is a simple affair, yet provides all the nourishment needed for the upcoming morning's manual labor. Taking a little toast, a little peanut butter (or perhaps some yoghurt), and, of course, a large double handled mug of Mystic Monk Coffee, the monks return to their individual places in the Refectory with food in hand, pray grace silently, and begin eating. For most of the year breakfast is eaten standing, with hood up. As the monks finish, they pray a silent thanksgiving and prepare for the day's work.
The Wyoming mountains provide an incredible scene for the day's manual labor. Some of the monks work in the monastery's coffee roasting shop, either roasting or packaging coffee. Stopping by their hermitages to exchange their brown woolen choir habits rugged brown work habits ( complete with a large Brown Scapular and hood) some of the monks head down to the large red coffee roasting barn. Warming up the 1950s cast iron roaster, the Br. Roaster looks at his clipboard with a roasting list for the day: Mystic Monk Blend, Vespers Decaf, and Midnight Vigils Blend.
After a couple of hours of roasting, grinding and packaging, the monks head back up to the monastery, stopping by their hermitages to change back into their brown woolen choir habits. It is time for Sext.